FINDINGS
What did I learn? What are the major findings of the study? What examples from the study support these findings?
A common way to organize findings is by themes or categories that were generated from the data. Typically each category/theme becomes a subheading and begins with a general description to define the category. This is followed by examples from the research to show the range of types of responses that went into that category — actual quotes from student responses, journals, field notes, artifacts, etc are included and interpreted by the researcher. These categories might also be broken into smaller subcategories.
Other possible ways to organize the data include chronology (in the order events
happened), life history (used for case study with the life history organized around analytical points to be made), composite (present findings as a composite picture such as “the day in the life of….”), critical events (significant events that reflect the major themes from the data), or portraits (of individuals or institutions).
In this section you are reporting the findings of the study and so must stay close to the data in the statements that you make. Don’t make broad statements/interpretations that extend beyond the participants in the research. Do include “thick” description – lots of specific examples of student talk, actions, etc. You have to show that you have the data to support the statements that you are making and so others understand what is in your categories.
DISCUSSION/IMPLICATIONS
So what? What are the possible implications of these findings for your own participants, other students, teachers, researchers? What sense do you make of this study? What are you taking away for yourself and for others?
Whose interests were served by this research? Who benefited? What is the study’s potential
What new questions emerged from this study?
CONCLUSIONS
Summary of study and concluding remarks that highlight thoughts you want to leave the reader with – the major insights or wonderings you are taking from the study.
